Everyone in Las Vegas has had at least one picnic ruined by yellow jackets. Whether they’re defending a nest or swarming over your backyard barbeque, most people can recognize this species instantly. Yellow jackets are a type of wasp, and their stings can be deadly. By understanding the behavior of yellow jackets, and wasps in general, you can minimize the risk of getting stung. Protect your yard, yourself, and your family from harm!

Late Summer Wasp Behavior in Las Vegas

Both yellow jackets and wasps hatch in spring, and by mid and late summer, their populations are beginning to outgrow the nest, and winter is coming. Because they’re close to the end of their lifecycle, they are more aggressive than ever. Yellow jackets also look for both sugar substances and protein, looking for extra resources to support themselves and the nest itself. The yellow jackets are forced to look even further for food because of their high numbers.

Here are some basic sources of wasp attraction:

Your picnic or backyard barbecue: yellow jackets will eat anything they can land on, and your hamburgers, soda, and watermelon are ideal food sources for wasps.
Clothing: bright colors look like fruit, and perfume can mimic flowers.
Eaves and holes: if you see a yellow jacket nest early in spring, and it’s still small, have it professionally removed. Wasps aren’t going anywhere unless you kick them out!
Your swimming pool: believe it or not, wasps love swimming pools. All wasps and bees need water, and they will use your pool to get it!
Hummingbird feeders: yellow jackets are desperate for food, and they will drink the sugar water in bird feeders.
Grubs in your lawn: this may be surprising, but because of their intense need for protein in late summer, wasps will also graze for grubs within your lawn.

Steps to Prevent Yellow Jackets

The following tips are excellent year-round, but they are especially important in late summer.

Keep food (and garbage) covered.
- If you’re having a cookout or backyard event, make sure food stays contained or covered. Any drinks should be covered at all times, because wasps will go inside a cup or can.
Don’t wear perfume if you’re going to be outdoors for a considerable amount of time, and keep bright colors to a minimum.
In spring, make sure you inspect any holes, burrows, eaves, and loose siding or stucco around your home.
- Seal any holes, loose siding, stucco voids, or other potentially attractive spaces for nests.
Hang a wasp-trap. Be sure to hang it away from any high-traffic areas, and away from the house.
- Don’t hang it near your hummingbird feeder, or consider placing your hummingbird feeder away from your house.
- If wasps are a serious problem, you may need to remove the hummingbird feeder entirely.
Don’t walk barefoot through the grass. Wasps and yellow jackets love hunting for grubs and other insects.
Eliminate sources of standing water, and cover your swimming pool.

Prevention is really the key here. If wasps can’t find shelter or food around your home, they won’t want to be there!

Professional Removal for Wasps and Yellow Jackets

Sometimes it’s not enough to prevent yellow jackets, and by late summer, you may have a serious problem. Call a professional pest control company! The trained technicians with Western Exterminator Pest Control can inspect your property and remove wasp nests safely. Because we focus on prevention instead of just treatment, we’ll be able to give you specific recommendations on how to prevent wasps in the future, protecting your home, your family, and your backyard!